Ga. school district approves rifles for officers

GAINESVILLE, Ga. (AP) — A north Georgia school board has approved a measure allowing some resource officers to carry long-range rifles.

The Gainesville Times reports the city's school board voted on the proposal Monday. The plan calls for a rifle to be kept in each of the city's high schools and middle schools.

School district officials say the weapons will be kept inside safes and will be accessible only to the school resource officer. Earlier this year, district leaders said the safes would be accessible by fingerprint recognition.

The newspaper reports the estimated $6,000 cost will be split between the district and the police department.

The city's police department approached the district with a proposal to allow resource officers in certain schools to carry rifles after the elementary school shooting in Newtown, Conn.